I completely agree with Niner's concern, though I hope at the end of the election season GTS turns out to be right.

This whole things shines a bright light on the libertarians' quandary that's been in existance for years.

The purists are the most ideologically consistant and truly maximize the economic and social freedom of the individual. The official Libertarian Party is generally populated with purists. Problem is this results in 2% returns on election days and media beatdowns on the extreme (a.k.a. "nutty") positions.

Someone with a more moderate approach may be perceived as "betraying" the liberty fundamentals, but would find wider acceptance among the populace and would still be 10x better than almost everyone offered on either side of the aisle.

Promoting a platform that greatly reduces spending, holds agencies more fiscally accountable, keeps the public safety net modest and limited, and promotes greater tolerance of social 'victimless' activities is appealing to a lot of people. Promoting a platform that calls for the elimination of nearly every tax and agency, allows a businessowner to post Whites Only signs on private restaurants, and calls for the full legalization of heroin scares the bejeezus out of people.

This isn't about what is Right vs. Wrong in these two platforms, but rather Pure Ideology with Little Backing vs. Lite Ideology with Potential Large Backing. Personally, I prefer the more moderate approach.

(05-21-2010 09:45 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I completely agree with Niner's concern, though I hope at the end of the election season GTS turns out to be right.

This whole things shines a bright light on the libertarians' quandary that's been in existance for years.

The purists are the most ideologically consistant and truly maximize the economic and social freedom of the individual. The official Libertarian Party is generally populated with purists. Problem is this results in 2% returns on election days and media beatdowns on the extreme (a.k.a. "nutty") positions.

Someone with a more moderate approach may be perceived as "betraying" the liberty fundamentals, but would find wider acceptance among the populace and would still be 10x better than almost everyone offered on either side of the aisle.

Promoting a platform that greatly reduces spending, holds agencies more fiscally accountable, keeps the public safety net modest and limited, and promotes greater tolerance of social 'victimless' activities is appealing to a lot of people. Promoting a platform that calls for the elimination of nearly every tax and agency, allows a businessowner to post Whites Only signs on private restaurants, and calls for the full legalization of heroin scares the bejeezus out of people.

This isn't about what is Right vs. Wrong in these two platforms, but rather Pure Ideology with Little Backing vs. Lite Ideology with Potential Large Backing. Personally, I prefer the more moderate approach.

Yes...and so does almost everyone else. Rand will regret taking this stance..although I back it 100% as one of those "purists".

True liberty is going to be accomplished through an evolutionary process...NOT...a sudden sudden shift of paradigm.

He would much better be served by just staying focused on the economic ..not..social issues pushed by the liberty movement.

I just don't like how he's approaching the situation. He's very defensive. Maybe its the best stance to quickly return to the offensive, but I feel like I know what he wants to/should say, but he's not saying it.

He's just going about this differently than I would.

The Liberal press probably already has the Bombshell to drop on Rand, this is just the set up. The press doesn't drop the heavy stuff until about 3 weeks before the general election. Rand is toast.

On a funny side note, while on one of the Sunday talk shows Rand said if we are going to bring up 40 year old legislation then you need to bring Robert C. Byrd on to explain why he filabustered the legislation.

lol at all these prognostications that he's done.

Double digit blowout. Independent landslide. Mark my words.